Riot Games Cuts 530 Jobs and Shuts Down Riot Forge

Riot Games is reducing its global workforce by 11%, a move resulting in the departure of approximately 530 employees. The company, owned by Tencent, confirmed the restructuring on Monday, marking a significant shift in its operational strategy to address mounting costs.

CEO Dylan Jadeja addressed the workforce in a company-wide update, describing the decision as a necessity rather than a response to quarterly earnings targets or shareholder pressure. According to Jadeja, the firm’s costs had reached an unsustainable level, leaving little room for the creative experimentation essential to its business model.

Operational Changes and Riot Forge

The restructuring includes the closure of Riot Forge, the publishing division established in 2019 to collaborate with independent studios on projects set within the League of Legends universe. The label produced five titles, including Ruined King and Song of Nunu. The final release under the banner will be Bandle Tale: A League of Legends Story, after which the division will cease operations.

In addition to the closure of Riot Forge, the company is adjusting its approach to Legends of Runeterra. While the digital card game will remain active, the development team is being downsized. The studio plans to pivot the game’s focus toward its PvE (player-versus-environment) mode, known as “Path of Champions.”

Support for Affected Employees

Riot Games has outlined a severance package for those impacted by the layoffs, which primarily affect teams outside of core game development. The transition support includes:

• Access to professional job placement services.
• Counseling support.
• Visa and immigration assistance for affected staff.
• Provision of new laptops for employees who do not own personal equipment.

“There’s no way around the fact that this is an extremely sad moment,” Jadeja stated regarding the staff departures. “We’re committed to doing our best to support you in this moment and through this transition.”

The move by the League of Legends developer follows a broader trend of downsizing across the video game industry. Other major publishers, including Epic Games, Ubisoft, Electronic Arts, and Activision Blizzard, have also implemented significant workforce reductions over the past year.